10m facing pub closures in the pandemic hotspots
PUBS and restaurants across the North of England face tougher restrictions within days to curb a surge in Covid cases.
Boris Johnson is considering measures including further limits on opening hours, restricting outlets to takeaway service, or even total hospitality sector closures in hotspot areas – affecting 10million people.
Government sources said the Prime Minister has ruled out imposing further national measures to contain the pandemic at this stage.
But Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday hinted at plans for a clampdown on pubs in the North.
Asked whether closing certain businesses could help tackle the surge of cases in the region he told a Confederation of British Industry meeting: ‘Outside your household and socialising between households, the highest place in incidence of likely transmission, measured by where people have contacts, is unfortunately hospitality.
‘Now obviously that finding is not good news in terms of the policy action we have to take for that sector.’
New restrictions could be imposed as soon as tomorrow, but may be delayed until the beginning of next week to
‘The rise in cases is concerning’
allow ministers to consider more data. The Treasury is already working up plans for a potential financial aid package for the worst-hit areas.
Nicola Sturgeon yesterday announced the ‘temporary’ closure of all pubs and restaurants across Glasgow, Edinburgh and the central belt. But a government source insisted a total closure in Northern English hotspots was ‘not a given’, with the Prime Minister facing pressure from Tory MPs and some ministers to resist further business restrictions.
‘The rise in cases and hospitalisations in some areas is really concerning,’ the source said. ‘We are looking at what further steps we might have to take but no decisions have been made.’ Mr Johnson yesterday directly referenced the surge in cases in some Northern cities as a cause for concern.
He said Manchester was now suffering 522 cases per 100,000 people, with Liverpool on 497 and Newcastle on 422.
‘The key point there is that the local, regional approach combined with the national measures remains correct,’ he said. ‘ Because two thirds of those admitted into hospital on Sunday were in the North West, the North East and Yorkshire.’
But Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham yesterday warned the Government faced ‘a dangerous winter of discontent in the north’. Mr Burnham indicated he would resist any further lockdown measures unless they were tailored to local needs and accompanied by a large compensation package.